Help! My pet rabbit is lazy...?

Question

My 6-7 month old New Zealand bred rabbit seems to be lazier than active most of the time. May it be night (I know rabbits are nocturnal) or day, caged or freed indoors, Max flops and stretches 85-90% of the time except when he eats and drinks water.

He does not poop much, but he poops all over the place. It is often said in rabbit websites that they often tend to defecate and urinate in a single place, I get frustrated I don’t see much of that on my Max. I am willing to potty train him, but I haven’t read any clear manual from a number of how-to’s I have read in books and websites. I always end up with questions for each article I study.

I get a little jealous with other rabbit owners proudly telling and showing how their pet rabbits get to be so active and sometimes mischievous and naughty. Hehehe! It would give me great joy and exercise if I could play with my pet rabbit Max both indoors and outdoors (like play ball, etc…). That’s the compliment you get for adopting and feeding

Answer 1

First of all, rabbits are NOT nocturnal!!! They are active during dawn and dusk, which is usually 6 AM-10 AM, and 6 PM-10 PM. Other than that, they are asleep most of the day and night.

This is the type of rabbit that you have, the relaxed, chilling kind of rabbit. He seems more like the lap kind of rabbit, the kind that just want to sit on you, being petted while you watch TV or read a book. :)

Rabbits "often" "tend to" defecate and urinate in a single place. But that doesn't mean always. You must first neuter him first, if you haven't already. If you haven't, then do it. If you have, then good! That's your first step! Then you must gather all the poop that he has and put it in his litterbox. And soak of the pee that he has and put the paper towel in his litterbox too. He probably will learn that he has to pee and poop in his litterbox. Every single time that he defecates out of litterbox, immediately put it back in his litterbox.

Give him a lot of exercise, if you haven't already. At least 4 hours of running freely around a day. If he still flops around, then you must accept him that's the way he is. It's his personality, and don't get jealous! Love him for the way he is. Just a little couch potato bunny. :)

Don't get jealous, a lot of other rabbit owners get jealous that their rabbit is too frisky and can't sit still at all and that they can't ever put them on their lap long enough to watch a TV commercial.

Sorry, but my rabbit can't play ball.. lol! She just throws things around and get temper tantrums if she doesn't get the things she wants, or when she gets frustrated that the thing that she wants to rearrange doesn't move. But she's not the "lap" kind of rabbit. :)

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have new zealands and they love to lounge around the house all the time.

They're naturally curious and sometimes down right nosey, but as far as being active, these two girls are just the opposite. They are truly the masters of flops.

My new zealands are more like big furry mushy lap bunnies. They love to be with us on the sofa being petted or brushed constantly. If your hand is not busy doing anything, they prefer to be under it.

Not all rabbits go to the potty in the same exact place all the time, so do have their favorite spots and some just go when they need to.

Littertraining takes patience but it's not hard to do:

http://www.wikihow.com/Litter-Train-a-Rabbit

Answer 3

Maybe you need to play with it more. Sounds like you do play with a lot. But maybe, it has been lazy for a while and is just used to laziness. Give it some time. He may be just as frusturated at you are. Is it sleeping at night? Is that why it is not moving much and is lazy? Check out the site
www.petadvice.com
or www.pets.com I think those are the two best sites for the situation. I hope this helped. Let me know if you have any questions? THX.

Answer 4

What size is his cage, and are there toys in it? Do you switch the toys sometimes or are they always the same? Rabbits need very big cages and lots of toys. They do get bored with old toys too. Here are some cheap, fun ideas:
http://www.adoptarabbit.org/articles/2003/Toys.pdf

How often is he allowed out to play, and for how long? Is the floor slippery, like hardwood or linoleum? Rabbits often have trouble hopping on floors like that and will avoid them. They also can't move very fast on them. If this is the case you can put out some rugs or towels for him to play on. Do you have toys for him to play with outside of his cage, like cardboard boxes or paper bags? My rabbits love these, and a new cardboard box castle makes them run around for joy and then start tearing it apart- my New Zealand included.

My rabbits sleep much of the day and night and play some in their pens during the morning and evening. They usually go nuts when I let them out to play though. They love my living room. Sometimes they are lazy when I let them out, but usually they run about for at least a bit.

None of my rabbits play ball with me. One likes to play fetch- she throws toys and I fetch them! And two like to jump on my back while I'm lying down or cleaning their pens. But they don't play like cats and dogs do. Rabbits are different, so they play rabbit games. ;)

As for litter training, the two most helpful things are spay/neuter and having the hay in or hanging above the litter box.

Answer 5

There could be something wrong with him physically.....check out the book "Rabbits for Dummies"....I learned a lot with that book!!!!

Jennifer

Answer 6

bunnies are not very active in the first place but you should spend plenty time with him and play with him.

Answer 7

This is the best website to learn everything and anything about pet rabbits!

http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/index.html

Answer 8

try getting him some toys and give him a treat when he is being good like a caret piece